Combined head-lamp dimming switch and horn switch for motor vehicles



May 22, 1928. 1,670,842 H. A. CHIVERS COMBINED HEAD LAMP DIMMING SWITCH AND HORN SWITCH FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 30, 192-5 7 T1" .9. ZCAMZME irrx Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

T0 NORBERT BASIL MOSS,

or HAWTHORN, AUSTRALIA.

connmnn HEAD-LAMP. nI-Miume swrrorr 4ND 301m swI'roH For. moron VEHICLES.

Application filed June 30, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to an improved switch which is usable for the dual purposes of controlling and dimming the headlamps of a motor-vehicle and for operating the signal horn. The invention provides a combined switch of the character indicated which is simple in construction, has relatively few parts and in use is highly efficient.

According to the invention I provide a switch comprising a base and a rotatable press button. On the base there are mounted three contacts two of which are respectively connected to the headlamp circuit and to the horn circuit, and the remaining contact is connected to the battery. This battery contact is of the spring type, and is so arranged that when the press button is depressed, it touches the horn circuit contact.

The-press button has a contact spring, which is constantly in engagement with the battery contact on the base and arranged to either make or break contact with the headlamp circuit contact when said press button is rotated.

Reference is now made to the ing drawings wherein a Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved dual purpose switch.

Figure 2 is a view in sectional elevation.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on line AA of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the press button.

Figures 6 and 7 are views in plan and in underside plan, respectively, of the base of the switch.

Figures 8 and 9 are views in plan and in crosssection respectively of the switch casing.

Figure 10 is a plan view showing the position of the switch parts when the headlamps are full-on.

Figure 11 is a similar view position of switch are dimmed.

Figure 12 is the diagram showing the wiring of the switch.

The improved combined switch comprises a base 2 and a rotatable press button 3, both of which are formed of vulcanite or other suitable insulating material. Mounted on the upper surface of the base 2 are two fixed contacts 4 and 5 and a spring accompanyshowing the parts when the headlamps 40,510, and in Australia August 13, 1924.

contact 6. The central fixed contact 4: is connected by wire 7 to the horn circuit 8, and the other fixed contact 5 is connected by wire 9 to the head-lamp circuit 10, which includes the usual dashboard control switch 11 and the dimming resistance 12.

The spring contact 6 is fashioned to, sub stantially U-shape and its free arm 13 is positioned above the horn contact 4 and it is so set that it is normally maintained out of contact therewith. This spring contact is connected by wire 14 to the battery 15, and it serves as the common contact of the switch for both the horn circuit 8 and the head-lamp circuit 10.

The rotatable press button 3 has a contact spring 16 of snail or spiral type formed with a corrugated end 17 that is adapted to make or break contact with the head-lamp contact 5 when said press button is rotated.

The corrugation in the end of the spring 16 permits said spring to positively contact and also to be freely disengaged from said contact 5. This contact spring 16 is secured to the underneath surface of the press button 3 by means of a central screw 18, which is in constant abutment with the spring contact 6 on the base 2. f

The base 2 and the rotatable press button 3are both housed within a metal casing 19, which has a flanged upper edge 20 that is adapted to abut against a shoulder 21 formed on the press button and thus maintain Said button in correct operative position. An indentation 22 on the casing 19 extends into a gap 23 formed in the shoulder 21 of the press button and limits the rotary movement of the latter.

Formed on the flanged edge 20 opposite to the indentation 22, is ateat 24 which is adapted to engage with either one of two small recesses 25 and 26 nitched in the surface of the press button and thus restrain said press button against accidental rotary movement when placed in selected position.

The press button 3 is formed having a knurled surface 27 for convenience of operation and its upper surface has suitable markings such as Dim and On. The teat 24 on the flanged edge 20 of the casing may be appropriately colored to serve as an indicator for said markings.

When the press button 3 is depressed the screw 18 which is constantly in engagement with the spring contact 6 causes the arm o VICTOR A A BALI S NQB 13 of said contact to be depressed whereby it touches the fixedhorn contact l. This movement completes the horn circuit 8 through the switch to the battery 15 and the horn is thus actuated whilst said button remains depressed; Upon the release of the press button, the combined tensions of the spring contact 6 and the contact spring 16 return said press button to normal position.

When the headlamps are switched on by the dashboard control switch 11, the press button is rotated until the on indication on said button is in register With the teat 24; formed onthe flanged edge of the easing 19. In this position the corrugated end 17 of the snail or spiral contact spring 16 is in engagement; with the headlamp contact 5, as is shown in Figure 10, and a direct headlamp circuit is thus provided through the wire 14;, the spring contact 6 the contact spring 16 and the wire 9 and the head-lan'ips are fully illuminated. When it is required to dim the headlamps, as desired when appreaching a vehicle travelling in opposite direction, the press button 3 is rotated until thetdim. indication thereon is in register with said teat 24:." During this movement the corrugated end 17 of the contact spring 16 recedes from the head-lamp contact 5 and is in the position shown in Figure 11, the headlamp circuit through the switch being interrupted. The, current from the battery 13 is thus caused to flow through the dimming resistance 12 whereby the headlamps are dimmed. I

To again switch the headlamps to full-on, the press button 3 is rotated in opposite direction until the contact spring 16 engages thecontact 5 and completes the direct headlamp circuit. The gap 23 in the flange 21 of the press button and the indentation 22 on the switch casing19 limit the press button to an arcual movement in either direction, thus preventing it from being rotated farther than is necessary to make and to break the. contact between the spring 16 and the contact 5, While the recesses 25 and 26 and the teat-241 serve to retain the press button atthe selected position to which it is L rotated :tor the purposes described.

The central screw '18 constantly bears againstthe spring contact 6, and thereby permits the press button to be depressed at all times to actuate the horn, irrespective of Whether said button is at the on or at the dim position or is being rotated to either oi said positions. a

The improved dual purpose switch is of simple and compact construction tending to economy in cost, and it can be readily litted to'thc steering wheel or steering column o1 a motor-vehicle, or to the handle bar of a motor-cycle so as to be conveniently accessible to the driver.

i that I do claim is: p r

A combined horn press switch and headlamp dimming switch comprising. in combination, a base, a central fixed contact on said base connected to the horn circuit, second fixed contact on said base connected to the headlamp circuit, a third fixed contact on said base connected to a battery and having an arm extending above thefixed horn contact, a rotatable and depressible button, and a contact spring of helical shape carried by said button and constantly engaged at a central point by the arm of the battery contact, said helical contact spring, being adapted when the button is depressed to close the arm of the-battery contact against the horn contact, and when said button is rotated to make or break circuit with the headlamp contact. l

In testimony whereof I affix signature.

HENRY ALBERT CHIVERS. 

